Discussions: moral dilemma A variation on the theme of consensus. Explain to students that a single mother who doesn’t have much money has been caught stealing milk. She explains why she did it: to feed her young children. Give students roles, e.g. store detective, social worker, and shoplifter’s friend. Allow time for preparation in groups: all the social workers together, all the store detectives work together, and all the friends work together. When everybody is ready, regroup the students so that there is 1 store detective, 1 social worker and 1 friend in each group; students say how they would deal with the situation.
They have to convince each other that their opinion is the valid one.
Discussions involving opinions Try to use topics that will generate varying opinions rather than having everybody agree. Typical examples include life in the city and life in the country, environmental issues, and traditional and alternative medicine. You can also use controversial subjects and topics that are currently in the news.
Discussions involving opinions work well in a group that has something to say. If the class is short on ideas or afraid of voicing a controversial opinion, these activities don’t work so well. You can overcome this by giving students time to prepare what they’ll say. You can also outline the various general attitudes to the subject e.g. opinions for and against the new underground transport system in the town where you work.
Students decide what their opinions are. They prepare in groups first; put students with the same opinion together and tell them to prepare their arguments as well as counterarguments to what the others will say. You can then regroup students so that students with different opinions are together.
Debates This involves choosing a controversial topic; one speaker presents one point of view on the topic and a second speaker presents a differing opinion. Debates are good at advanced levels. It’s a good idea to give some input on the topic matter first. For example, you could do a listening or reading activity on the same subject. Give students time to prepare what they will say; you might even prompt them by giving them ideas on the topic and outlining common opinions. Students can prepare in groups and practise the debates in groups before they present to the whole class. Students can ask each other questions after the presentation and vote on which opinion is the most convincing.